“Buchanan – A security supervisor at the Indian Point nuclear plant has been suspended for at least two weeks after he was found to be under the influence of alcohol Monday while on the job, according to his employer.

The man, who was not identified, was not at the Hudson River plant when a colleague smelled alcohol on his breath, according to Jim Steets, a spokesman for plant-owner Entergy Corp.

But he was acting as a safety supervisor at a firing range where other Entergy security workers were undergoing firearms training. Following company and Nuclear Regulatory Commission protocol, the colleague reported the incident to his superiors. The man was then given a Breathalyzer test that showed his blood-alcohol content to be above the NRC limit of .04 percent.

Under the unpaid suspension, the man is barred from the plant and must undergo a drug and alcohol assistance program while plant officials review the incident. Entergy allows workers one such offense, but a second would mean automatic termination. Steets said this is the man’s first offense.

If and when the man is cleared to return to work, he will be subject to additional drug and alcohol testing.

The incident was reported as required by the NRC, which requires nuclear plant operators to deal aggressively with drug and alcohol use in the workplace, according to NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan. He said worker behavior is also monitored “for significant signs of abnormal behavior.”

Workers are required to report any relevant concerns. In addition to responding to those reports, workers are tested randomly for drugs and alcohol at the plant and at Entergy’s regional headquarters in White Plains. Many employees there have access to the plant about 23 miles away.

That was the case with a worker in the White Plains office who was found to be under the influence of alcohol after a random test in September. Steets said that worker went through the required treatment and testing programs and is back on the job.“

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